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HANDS IN THE SOIL

THE REFORM OF the European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is a matter
of urgency. Not only for economic reasons, but more importantly for environmental,
social, spiritual and health reasons. The British Prime Minister, Tony
Blair, is proposing to reform the CAP mostly as a means to save money,
which is a trivial reason. Fundamentally, industrial agriculture is dependent
on the excessive use of fossil fuels and heavy machinery, which in turn
contribute to global warming. Therefore CAP reform
must include the reduction of petroleum use and increase human participation
in the production of food.

Industrial agriculture removes people from the land and disconnects them
from the very source of food upon which we all depend. During the 20th
century, due to the availability of cheap oil, we came to believe that
mechanised agriculture is an advanced form of farming and that human connection
with the land is not only a backward method, but also unnecessary.

Moreover, industrial societies are obsessed with the idea of economic
growth at all costs. For them, economic growth is a sign of progress.
And they have come to believe that globalisation is the most efficient
way of achieving economic growth. As a result, mass production and mass
transportation of food around the world have become normal practice. 60%
of world travel by air, land or sea is for the purpose of business and
only 40% is for the purpose of family, friendship, leisure and pleasure.
Thus globalisation is a major cause of global warming.

So, if political and business leaders want to maintain industrial agriculture
and the global distribution of food on the one hand and combat global
warming on the other, there is clearly a contradiction. Industrial farming
methods and mass transportation are inevitably destructive to the environment.
Christopher Lloyd in his article is asking European nations to embrace
organic farming, protect small and family farms, promote local distribution
and consumption of food and encourage the participation of a greater number
of people in food production, through reform of the CAP.

Through our education, media and policy decisions we have been conditioned
to think that working on the land is unpleasant work, and that it is dirty
and worthless, whereas sitting in front of a computer in an office, shifting
papers, attending meetings, administration and management are easy, clean
work, and worth more. This conditioning of the mind has resulted in a
fear of and aversion to outdoor work. We are frightened of the rain, wind
and cold. We are frightened of wasps, worms, bees, beetles, slugs and
spiders. We are frightened of the wild and unpredictable. This is a very
industrial mindset. Agrarian societies of Asia, Africa and South America
do not fear the wild; rather, they embrace it. We in the West need to
cultivate a love of the outdoors, the wild and the natural.

This has to begin early in life. Children in primary schools and secondary
schools as well as students of universities should be given the opportunity
to participate in gardening and human-scale farming so that they become
familiar with the natural world. If every school can have a playground,
why can it not also have a garden?

In Benedictine monasteries, gardening and farming are considered a spiritual
practice. Many gardeners and farmers around the world find that their
connection with the soil is a source of spiritual health and joy. A new
movement in Europe is emerging. It is called Green Care. At Green Care
farms, mental and physical health are promoted by inviting people to spend
time working on and enjoying the land. Jules Pretty in his column informs
us that in Norway there are 500 such farms and that the movement is spreading
throughout the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Austria and Belgium - but
not in the UK. Why not? Perhaps reform of the CAP could support and promote
such an initiative.

Satish Kumar

Satish Kumar is President of Schumacher UK, Editor of Resurgence
and Director of Programmes at Schumacher College.